Category: Adventures

Following running Rim to Rim to Rim in Grand Canyon, I was in the neighbourhood, and so stopped by Death Valley to go for a run in the Badwater Basin. I didn’t do the full crossing, since what made for a great day running, also made for a tough one, meaning I didn’t have the…

At the North Kaibab Trailhead of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, my watch’s GPS says I’ve run 44.54 kilometers before my return run to the South Rim. That’s a wrinkle, as I’ve only packed “nutrition” for a total 76.5kms based on my research.

About 3.5 miles from the summit on the Cactus to Clouds, 10,400 feet (3,170 meters) of total vertical and 21 miles from Palm Springs to San Jacinto Peak, I conclude malevolent weather is the trail’s forte. Freezing rain, slush, and frigid wind have taken me to the edge of hypothermia outside Palm Springs – just for the irony.

I am heads down navigating the trail, when a voice calls out, “I think you’re going the wrong way.” Like a true road runner, I’ve committed the situational awareness faux pas of looking at my feet, and missed one of the well marked turns in the 2015 Channel Ridge 9k produced by the Salt Spring…

Less than ten kilometers in and I’m exiting my third port-a-potty, three port-a-potty stops into the 2015 Vancouver BMO Marathon. The run is quickly becoming a list of ‘what not to do’ in undertaking a marathon. Foremost, in embracing the spirit of the moment and adventure I had signed up for the marathon the day…

I’m walking across a wide open “campground”, where the sites are a several hundred meters apart. To disturb your neighbours under the darkening purple of the Moab sky, you’d have to work up a good, loud bellow. They do things big here, and it’s been a big day on the White Rim Trail in Canyon…

Photos: Kevin Miklossy & Bart Stockdill The text message comes in, “Looks like Indian River blockade is passable on a quad or dirt bike, didn’t go any further on account of being alone and sunset.” The blockade in question is a 15-plus foot high cement barrier intended to keep all users off the Indian River…